BEIJING, May 9: China has assured full support to Pakistan in its efforts to improve relations with India.

The assurance was given by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing during a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Friday.

A Chinese foreign office spokesman told APP the talks between the two foreign ministers were very productive and were in line with the policy of the two governments to hold consultation on all matters of mutual interest.

He said it had been the policy of the two countries to take joint position on all regional and international issues, while developing good bilateral relations.

China would continue to work to ease the situation in South Asia along with the international community, Mr Li Zhaoxing said during the talks.

Mr Kasuri briefed Mr Li on the recent situation in south Asia. He said President Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistan government had always stood for dialogue and a peaceful settlement of disputes and Pakistan took this attitude seriously.

He said Pakistan hoped China would continue to work for the easing of the situation.

Mr Li said China supported the measures that Pakistan and India had taken recently to improve bilateral relations.

The ministers also exchanged views on bilateral ties, the issues of Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Iraq and international cooperation on Sars.—APP